Rangers Must Trade Veteran Center Before 2026 Deadline

New York should capitalize on Vincent Trocheck's value and trade him for a strong return.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The New York Rangers are in the midst of a disappointing season and have already made some major trades, including sending Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings. With the team's core aging and little hope of making the playoffs this year, the Rangers must now consider trading veteran center Vincent Trocheck before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline to get maximum value in return.

Why it matters

Trocheck is a well-respected two-way center who can provide important secondary scoring and defensive play. With his affordable contract and strong faceoff abilities, he could be in high demand at the trade deadline, allowing the Rangers to get a significant return as they look to retool their roster.

The details

Trocheck, 29, is coming off a 77-point season in 2024-25 and has been one of the league's better faceoff men, winning over 56% of his draws. While his defensive play has dipped slightly this season, he remains a valuable two-way center on an affordable $5.625 million per year contract that runs through 2032. The Rangers could retain some salary in a trade to make Trocheck even more appealing to potential suitors.

  • The Rangers have already made major trades this season, including sending Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings.
  • The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline is approaching, providing the Rangers an opportunity to capitalize on Trocheck's value.

The players

Vincent Trocheck

A 29-year-old veteran center for the New York Rangers who is signed through 2032 on an affordable $5.625 million per year contract.

Chris Drury

The general manager of the New York Rangers who has made it clear the team is in a retooling process.

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What’s next

The Rangers will need to weigh Trocheck's value against the team's long-term needs as they look to retool their roster through the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.

The takeaway

By trading the veteran Trocheck, the Rangers can capitalize on his strong two-way play and affordable contract to extract a valuable return that can help accelerate their retooling process and set them up for future success.